· SH Energy editorial
Most first orders go wrong before the deposit: the buyer compares price and capacity, not evidence. The questions below are the ones that separate a supplier who can support a product line from one who can only quote a box.
1. Ask for the model list before the catalogue
A catalogue shows what a company would like to sell. A model list shows what it can actually ship, with names, capacities and variants. Ask for the exact model codes you would put on a purchase order, then ask which of them are in production this quarter and which are being discontinued.
If the answer is a family name with no model codes, you cannot check certificates, spare parts or compatibility later. That is not a document problem; it is a product-control problem.
2. Test the certificate, not the claim
“IEC certified” means nothing until you see the certificate. Three things must match: the exact model, the standard and scope, and the issuing body. A certificate for a similar model in the same family is not evidence for the model you are buying.
- Ask for the certificate number and the report number, not just a PDF image.
- Check whether the scope covers the capacity variant you want.
- Ask what is not covered. A supplier who can list the gaps is usually more reliable than one who claims everything.
This is also where you learn how the supplier behaves under scrutiny. A short, precise answer with a document attached is worth more than a long assurance.
3. Transport documents: UN 38.3 and MSDS
Lithium batteries need a UN 38.3 test summary and an MSDS before a carrier will accept them. Ask for both for the exact model, and ask whether the battery is shipped as a separate unit or installed in the enclosure — the classification can differ.
If the supplier cannot produce these, the shipment will stall at booking, not at the destination. That delay is yours, not theirs.
4. Warranty: who honours it, and where
Ask three questions in writing: what is covered, for how long, and who performs the repair. A warranty that requires shipping a 100 kg unit back to China is not the same product as one with a local spare-parts path.
Also ask what evidence the claim needs. Serial number, installation photos, fault code and a commissioning record are common requirements; knowing them before the sale prevents arguments after it.
5. Spare parts and the BMS
A battery system is a battery plus electronics. Ask which parts are field-replaceable, whether the BMS is shared across models, and how a replacement board is ordered. If every model uses a different board with a six-week lead time, your after-sales cost is already decided.
For inverters, ask for the communication protocol documentation and the firmware update path. Without them, compatibility claims cannot be checked by anyone.
6. MOQ, production slot and the real lead time
Minimum order quantity is usually driven by cell lot sizes, packaging and the cost of a certification batch. Ask what the MOQ is for the exact model and whether a mixed-model container is allowed.
Then split the lead time into three parts: production slot, testing and documentation, and shipping booking. A single “30 days” answer hides which part is the constraint.
7. Payment terms and the account name
Confirm the beneficiary name matches the company that issued the quotation and the certificate. Mismatches are a classic fraud vector, and they also complicate customs. Treat any late change of bank details as a stop signal and verify through a second channel.
8. Factory visit or live video — as one input, not the decision
A live walk-through is useful for understanding scale and process. It does not prove that your model is made there or that the documents exist. Use it to confirm the story matches the paperwork, not to replace the paperwork.
9. References you can actually contact
Ask for two customers in a comparable market, with a contact who will answer a short email. A reference that only exists as a logo on a website is not a reference. If the supplier cannot provide one, ask why — newness is an acceptable answer, silence is not.
10. The first-order test
Order a small batch before a container. Check the serial numbers against the packing list, open one unit, compare the nameplate to the certificate, and run a commissioning test. The point is not to catch a bad unit; it is to see how the supplier responds when something is not perfect.
Copy-ready question list
Where this fits your market
The same questions apply in every market, but the paperwork differs. For market-specific document requirements, see the South Africa, Nigeria and Iraq sourcing pages. If you are building a dealer line, the partner programme explains how we structure the first order.
Is a factory audit video enough to qualify a supplier?
A live video walk-through is useful, but it proves a building exists, not that the model you want is made there or holds the documents you need. Treat it as one input and keep the document test as the deciding one.
Should I buy from a trading company or a factory?
Both can work. What matters is whether the seller can produce model-level documents, answer technical questions without forwarding them, and take responsibility for the batch. A trading desk that sources from several factories can be more useful than a single factory that only makes one configuration.
What is the single strongest red flag?
A certificate that does not name the exact model, or a warranty that is promised verbally but never written into the quotation. Both are cheap to promise and expensive to enforce later.
How long should the first order take?
It depends on the production slot, the testing and documentation, and the shipping booking. Ask for those three as separate dates rather than one total lead time, so you can see which part is actually moving.
Discuss a sourcing enquiry
Send the model codes, the destination market and the documents you already hold to jimmy@sunhongenergy.com, or contact the desk on WhatsApp. Related reading: the RFQ checklist and the compatibility checklist.
Scope
This guide describes procurement practice, not a guarantee of any supplier's capability. Certification, transport acceptance and warranty obligations are decided by the issuing bodies, carriers and the contract between the parties.